Savita Punia not available for World Cup qualifiers

In a major blow to the Indian women’s hockey team, goalkeeper Savita Punia will not be available for the World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Hyderabad from March 8-14.According to sources, the former India captain has opted out of the tournament due to personal reasons and left the camp after the first two weeks.

She, however, is expected to return after the tournament as the team prepares for the Asian Games, the World Cup, if they qualify for it, and the Nations Cup later this year.

In the World Cup qualifiers, eight teams — including India — will compete, with the two finalists and the winner of the third-place playoff securing qualification for the quadrennial event to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.Savita, having played more than 300 internationals, would have certainly made a huge difference to the team which is being coached by Sjoerd Marijne after the exit of Harendra Singh.

While India will play their group matches against Uruguay, Scotland and Wales, it will be from the semis onward that the main challenge will begin.But as far as Savita is concerned, she had also missed the last major tournament that the Indian women’s team participated in, which was the Women’ Asia Cup held in Hangzhou last year due to injury, for which she also had to undergo surgery.Later, she made a successful return during the Women’s Hockey India League for JSW Soorma Hockey Club, but the team failed to make it to the finals and finished last in the table.

In her absence, it is expected that Bichu Devi Kharibam and Bansari Solanki will be the two goalkeepers named in the squad. The two goalkeepers did incredibly well during the Women’s HIL. While Bichu made some great saves playing for Ranchi Royals, Solanki won the goalkeeper of the tournament award after leading SG Pipers to victory.The duo also participated in the Asia Cup, too, and did impress before China beat India in the final 4-1. China also got the better of them in the Super 4's Pool stage, winning by the same margin. However, in the remaining games, India remained unbeaten.